Balance problems

Diagnosis

Your doctor will start by reviewing your medical history and conducting a physical and neurological examination.
In order to ascertain the cause of the symptoms related to the balance function in the inner ear, the healthcare provider is likely to recommend a series of tests. These tests may encompass:

• Imaging tests: In order to ascertain whether underlying medical diseases might be the cause of balance problems MRI and CT scans are useful diagnostic techniques.
• Hearing tests: Hearing difficulties are frequently associated with balance issues.
• Posturography test: When wearing a safety harness and attempting to maintain balance on a moving platform, a posturography test is conducted to determine the primary components of your balance system that you rely on.
• Electronystagmography and videonystagmography: These both tests that analyze eye movements, which are integral to vestibular function and balance. Electronystagmography utilizes electrodes to record eye movements, while videonystagmography employs small cameras to capture eye movements.
• Rotary chair test: During the examination, patient will be seated in a computer-controlled chair that moves gradually in a circular motion, while the eye movements are analyzed.
• Dix-Hallpike maneuver: The healthcare provider will carefully adjust the head into several positions while watching the movements of the eyes to check for any incorrect sense of motion or spinning.
• Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials test: The neck, forehead, and under-eye sensor pads are used to track minute changes in muscle contractions in reaction to noises.
• Blood pressure and heart rate tests: To evaluate potential significant drops in blood pressure, the blood pressure may be checked while sitting and then after standing for two to three minutes. Additionally, the heart rate might be checked while standing to assist in determining if a heart condition is contributing to the symptoms.

Treatment

The treatment for the balance problems will depend on the underlying cause. The treatment plan may include the following:

• Balance retraining exercises (vestibular rehabilitation): Balance retraining and exercises customized to each person are created by therapists who specialize in balance problems. Through therapy, one can learn to continue physical activity while compensating for imbalance and adapting to decreased balance. The therapist might advise using a balance aid, like a cane, to prevent falls and provide advice on lowering fall risks in one’s home.
• Positioning procedures: A therapist might carry out a process known as canalith repositioning on those with BPPV. With this method, particles from the inner ear is removed and moved to another part of the ear. The process entails adjusting the position of your head through various maneuvers.
• Lifestyle and diet changes: Healthcare providers frequently suggest dietary adjustments to patients with Meniere’s illness or migraines to reduce symptoms. This may entail consuming less salt and avoiding foods that cause symptoms, such as coffee and alcohol. Compression stockings or increased fluid intake may be required in cases of postural hypotension.
• Medications: Healthcare providers may prescribe medications to treat vomiting and dizziness if a patient has severe vertigo that lasts for hours or days.
• Surgery: The medical team treating a person with Meniere’s disease or an acoustic neuroma might suggest surgery. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be an option for some acoustic neuroma patients. Through this method, the tumor is precisely targeted with radiation without the need for an incision.